Warm modern interiors that blend natural elements, inviting tones, and rich textures

Michelle Poitras, BA Interior Design

Founder I Principal Designer

North Vancouver-based interior designer Michelle Poitras believes good design begins with listening, to the architecture, the landscape, and most importantly, the people who live in a home. As founder and principal designer of Lucien Marie Design, established in 2020, she brings 14 years of professional experience to residential renovations, custom homes and interiors throughout Vancouver, North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

Named after Michelle’s grandparents, Lucien and Marie, the studio reflects her belief in the value of connection to the past. This philosophy is particularly evident in her work with mid-century modern homes, where she seeks to preserve and celebrate original architectural character while taking a contemporary approach to how spaces are used and lived in today. For Michelle, referencing the past is not about recreating it, but understanding what made it successful and thoughtfully carrying those ideas forward.

A graduate of Algonquin College’s Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design program in Ottawa, Michelle began her career at Robertson Simmons Architects in Toronto before moving into architectural plaster conservation. Working under plaster conservators Jean-François D. Furieri and HPCS, she contributed to the preservation and rehabilitation of Ottawa’s 1920s BMO building, now the Sir John A. Macdonald Building. This experience deepened her appreciation for architectural heritage and the careful stewardship of existing buildings.

Later, as a Senior Interior Designer at Jenny Martin Design in Victoria, Michelle entered the West Coast luxury residential market, developing a deep understanding of craftsmanship, detailing and the collaborative process behind highly considered homes.

Today, her warm, restrained aesthetic draws from modern and mid-century modern design, with an emphasis on natural materials, layered textures, thoughtful custom millwork and carefully considered details. She sees each project as a balance between a home’s architectural character, the homeowner’s lifestyle and taste, and its relationship to the surrounding landscape.

In 2025, Lucien Marie Design was recognized by Western Living’s Design 25 for the Mountainside Ski Home living room, “Tranquil Retreat.” Michelle’s work has also been published in Modern Home Magazine, Western Living and The Spruce, with her expertise featured editorially in Martha Stewart, Homes & Gardens and Living etc.

For Michelle, the most successful projects begin with understanding what is and isn’t working and listening carefully to what clients want their lives at home to feel like. Whether improving functionality, creating better storage or simply making a home feel more personal, she approaches each project as an opportunity to problem-solve thoughtfully and create spaces that feel both authentic and enduring.

The result is a home that feels personal rather than prescribed, one that respects its architecture, reflects the people who live there, and supports them in living more comfortably and beautifully.

Photo Credit: Sophia Hsin